Black-owned businesses hit hard by pandemic © Provided by WESH Orlando Business As Central Florida businesses climb out of a pandemic-induced financial hole, thousands of small businesses have been forced to close. A recent study suggests Black-owned businesses have had to close at twice that rate.Sign up for our Newsletters "Black businesses sometimes have a tougher time,” Petrona Ramsey said. Petrona Ramsey is the president of the Black Business Orlando Facebook group, a 2014 initiative that now boasts more than 22,000 members. During the pandemic, the organization held virtual events ...